Can You Name 40 of the Most Famous Cartoon Characters of All Time?
By: Lauren Lubas
3 min
Image: Walt Disney Television Animation
About This Quiz
From Mickey Mouse to Bugs Bunny and all the way to Rick Sanchez, cartoon characters can be just as well-developed and hardcore as any live-action character who has been created (and sometimes even more so). While there are hundreds of cartoon characters that have been created over the years, 40 of them stand out as some of the most memorable of all time. These are characters we grew up with, and for some of us, our parents grew up with them as well). They are characters we know and love. Your favorites may have changed throughout the years, but there is a special place in your heart for those of your childhood, and if you have children, you probably enjoy seeing the new generation of cartoons coming to life on your television screens.
You'll recognize some of the famous cartoon characters in this quiz rather quickly, but others are far more difficult to place. If you're a cartoon lover, you might think this quiz will be easy. But do you think you can recognize famous cartoon characters spanning nearly 100 years? What are you waiting for? It's time to test your skills. How many of these cartoon characters do you know?
Betty Boop was a singer and lover of all things men. She had a short skirt (too short for her time period), and she has been around since 1930. Her cartoons are mostly in black and white, but you can catch her fan art in color.
This sailor is all about his veggies. Do you know his name?
Donald Duck
Steamboat Willie
Bluto
Popeye
Popeye was in love with Olive Oyl, but she loved Bluto (or Brutus, depending on when you first watched the cartoon). Popeye was first seen on screen in 1929, and he is still loved today.
Do you recognize this cartoon character that is featured in holiday specials?
Charlie Brown
The Peanuts characters all have such great personalities. Even Snoopy has his own thing going (the dog sleeps on his house). Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang are usually seen on television during the holidays. Their TV specials begin as early as Halloween.
Can you name the cat that was always after a mouse named Jerry?
Tom
Tom the cat may have looked evil, but he just wanted to eat something. He always tried to be good, but Jerry constantly taunted him by messing with stuff around the house while Tom's owner tried to sleep.
"Absorbent and yellow and porous is he!" ... eh hem, sorry. SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the most popular cartoons in recent history. He is an innocent little sponge who is filled with happiness and joy.
Do you recognize this character who had poor eyesight?
George Jetson
Mr. Magoo
Mr. Magoo was no joke. He didn't see very well, but he always seemed to get where he was going. There were several short films with Mr. Magoo, and two of them won Oscars for Best Animated Short Film.
"The Flintstones" is a cartoon that dates back to the 1960s. However, it is still shown on cartoon networks and during children's programming, making this barefoot family one of the most recognizable of all time.
He graced our television sets in the 1980s, and we're still watching him today. Do you know his name?
Milhouse Vanhauten
Bobby Hill
Santa's Little Helper
Bart Simpson
When we first met Bart Simpson, we quickly learned that he was a troublemaker, and many parents didn't like their kids watching him. These days, "The Simpsons" is one of the most beloved television shows out there.
This cartoon character had a great self-defense mechanism. Who is he?
Tom Cat
Heckle
Woody Woodpecker
Woody Woodpecker was kind of mean, but if anyone tried to capture him (or get him to stop pecking), he'd simply peck them on the head. His was one of the more violent cartoons that were available to children.
This cartoon character was first spotted in the 1960s. Do you know who it is?
Mr. Magoo
Granny
Piglet
The Pink Panther
Many love the look and style of The Pink Panther, but few members of the younger generation have seen him in action. He was usually seen in the opening or closing credits of "The Pink Panther" series.
He smelled bad, but he didn't know it. Do you know who he is?
Pepe Le Pew
This skunky character always fell in love with a poor unsuspecting cat that accidentally rubbed up on some white paint. We often wonder how often a cat can rub itself in white paint, and it turns out, it's quite a lot.
"King of the Hill" was an attempt at a more family-based cartoon by Mike Judge, the creator of "Beavis and Butthead." As a matter of fact, Hank Hill's character looks very much like Tom Anderson from "Beavis and Butthead."
What is the name of this cartoon bird that can never believe his own eyes?
Woody Woodpecker
Tweety Bird
Tweety Bird was everyone's favorite victim. Sylvester the cat, out for a little snack, would always try to attack Tweety, but Tweety had his defenses. He would torture that cat, but it was all in the name of self-preservation.
Felix the Cat was a troublemaker (by today's standards). He liked to do the things that adults did, and not all of them legal. He could be found drinking (when drinking wasn't legal) quite often. He made his first appearance in 1919.
Foghorn Leghorn is our favorite cartoon character who had a stutter. He liked to reprimand and correct other characters in his sets, but he was still fun to watch. While he isn't necessarily a fan favorite, he is still one of the most famous cartoon characters of all time.
He has buck teeth and is always asking a particular question. Do you know this cartoon character?
Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny was created in the 1930s. "What's up, Doc?" is the catchphrase with which he is most associated. He has been around for nearly 100 years, and his movies haven't stopped. Whenever you think of Looney Toons, you probably picture Bugs immediately.
Which cartoon dog solved mysteries with his human friends?
Scooby-Doo
While there are dozens of fan theories surrounding Scooby-Doo and his friends (a gang of teens who drive around to abandoned amusement parks solving ghost mysteries), he is still one of the most beloved cartoon characters to come out of the world of animation.
Do you recognize this non-verbal Looney Toons character?
Sylvester
Wile E. Coyote
Road Runner
For some reason, Road Runner doesn't speak. You might hear a "Meep Meep" out of him here and there, but he and his nemesis (Wile E. Coyote) never say a word to each other. Wile E. wants to catch Road Runner, but he never gets the chance to do so, which is pretty much the storyline of each episode of the cartoon.
Hanna-Barbera made some great cartoons, and Yogi Bear was one of them. Yogi Bear is a fun-loving (and picnic basket loving) bear who is always running away from the ranger. Yogi made his first appearance in 1958.
Did we mention that Joseph Barbera and William Hanna were geniuses? Huckleberry Hound was a sweet little dog that loved to be around his friends. His character was around for 30 years, from 1958-1988.
There are many cartoon mice, but can you name this one?
Mickey Mouse
Squishy
Speedy Gonzales
Speedy Gonzales was a mouse that lived in Mexico. He was fast and always running from something. He'd shout in Spanish before he ran away (you'd think someone could catch him based on his warning, but you'd be wrong).
In his earlier skits, it seemed as though Donald Duck just couldn't catch a break. He's a little hot-headed when things go awry (and things always go awry). It's a good thing you can't understand him when he gets angry because it's almost as though he is saying bad words.
Winnie the Pooh is a cartoon character that is all about looking at the bright side of things. He has friends with problems, and he always works toward helping them and fixing their issues over his own.
Ariel is a 16-year-old who wants to study abroad, and by that we mean she wants to study the language of love in a completely different world where her parents can't live. When her father says no, she sells her soul to do so.
While "The Simpsons" started off highlighting Bart as a bad kid, they soon realized that focusing on Homer's antics put the show over the top. That's when the show really became for adults, and the stories seemed to never end.
Angelica was no angel when it came to playing with the babies on the "Rugrats" series. She was mean and spoiled and screamy at all times, and she would even be a little cruel when the grownups weren't around.
Casper was a ghost, but he was a friendly ghost. It's all fun and games while you're watching this cartoon, until you realize that a child had to die in order for Casper to become a ghost. Then everything is sad.
These three characters all had the same name, but they were spelled differently. Who are they?
The Ashleys
Ed, Edd and Eddy
When it comes to hilarious cartoons, "Ed, Edd N Eddy" was probably at the top of the list. These three friends hung out with each other and embodied what it was like to be a child in the early 2000s.
Mighty Mouse showed everyone that size doesn't matter. He was the strongest mouse in the world, and no one could stop him. He even flew! He was like Superman for kids ... if Superman wasn't already for kids.
"Dexter's Laboratory" was a show about a young boy who was so smart, he had his own experiments going on. Oh, and he saved the world. He had an older sister named Dee Dee and a nemesis named Mandark.
"Tiny Toon Adventures" was a show about the next generation of Looney Toons. Which Tiny Toon is this?
Buster
Hampton
Babs
Babs Bunny was a little pink bunny who was witty and intelligent. While "Tiny Toon Adventures" only lasted two years, it was a very intelligent show that had some great characters in it (including a character that loved animals so much that she almost killed them).
"Futurama" was a show that was all about what the future would be like ... when someone is accidentally frozen for 1,000 years. The show had several references to the 20th century, and it also had some pretty creative storylines.
His uniquely shaped head gives him away. Do you know his name?
Martin
Shortie
Sqarezie
Arnold
"Hey Arnold!" was an incredibly interesting show, if you looked at it the right way. When you consider the different (and very dark) fan theories that are out there about the show, you realize that it wasn't just about problem solving and humor.
Brian is an anthropomorphic dog that belongs to the Griffin family on the show, "Family Guy." He is a heavy drinker and an aspiring writer who wants to make his mark on the world. Showrunners wanted to kill him off, but that didn't last long.
Eric Catman is a character that basically embodies everything that is wrong with the world. He wholeheartedly thinks he's doing the right thing, but he seems to be way off base with how he goes about doing it.
Do you know this monotone cartoon character's name?
Beth
Daria
Daria was first seen on "Beavis and Butthead," but she was given a spin-off on MTV a few years later. She was a social outcast, but she was intelligent, which spoke to a lot of young girls at the time.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would be impossible to tell apart if it weren't for their different color masks and their weapons. You can always spot Raphael by his red mask.
This character from "Rick and Morty" is more important than she seems. Can you name her?
Summer Smith
Summer Smith is Morty's sister on the show, "Rick and Morty." While it seems like she doesn't do much but get into trouble, there are a few key moments when she gets Rick and Morty out of mortal danger.
The Warner brothers (and the Warner sister) invaded our televisions in the 1990s. Can you name this Warner family member?
Wakko
Yakko
Yakko, Wakko and Dot were some of the craziest characters on television, but they also taught young children quite a bit (we refer you to the songs that Yakko used to sing). "Animaniacs" ran for five years, but it is one of the most memorable shows of the 1990s.
We still aren't sure how "The Ren & Stimpy Show" was ever on a children's network, but we are grateful nonetheless. This show was crude and filled with really intelligent humor that you had to think about to even get to a laugh. It was pure genius.